MarketsFarm – Traders at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) are positioning themselves ahead of the United States Department of Agriculture’s monthly crop estimates to be released on Aug. 12. Estimates from private firms and speculation over how accurate they will be compared to the USDA’s are making their mark on the markets. “I think […] Read more

CBOT weekly outlook: Analysts await USDA crop estimates

CN, CP railways break grain shipping records
MarketsFarm – It was a record-breaking year for both of Canada’s two major freight railways. In separate news releases to the public on August 3, both Canadian National Railway (CN Rail) and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP Rail) reported a record amount of grain moved during the 2020-21 crop year. For the first time ever, both […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans gain on weather concern; global demand pressures corn, wheat
Chicago | Reuters – Corn and wheat futures slipped on Wednesday, tracking falls in outside energy markets as rising Delta-variant coronavirus cases raised worries that renewed restrictions could limit demand and overwhelmed recent weather concerns for U.S. crops. Chicago soybeans ended higher, supported by a private assessment of the U.S. crop, released Tuesday after the […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle firm on scarce supply and firmer cash markets
Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures firmed on Wednesday as cash trade firmed and wholesale beef prices march higher, traders said. “We have some tighter market-ready cattle supplies right now. The outlook is for supplies to tighten further later in the year and into next year,” said Doug Houghton, technical analyst […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs firm as market-ready supplies remain soft
Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures gained for a second day on Tuesday, supported by lower supplies of market ready hogs as the August futures contract nears expiration. “Until we start seeing better numbers coming forward on packer runs, I think that’s going to elevate things a little bit,” said Matthew […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans fall on improved crop outlook, forecast
Chicago | Reuters – Chicago soybean futures sank on Tuesday after the previous day’s better-than-expected crop conditions report coupled with forecasts for rain across the U.S. Midwest as the oilseed begins to set seed pods. Corn and wheat also fell but found support from earlier hot, dry weather that will likely cut yields. The most-active […] Read more

Dominican Republic to kill thousands of pigs over swine fever outbreak
Santo Domingo | Reuters – The Dominican Republic will slaughter tens of thousands of pigs after detecting outbreaks of African swine fever in 11 of the country’s 32 provinces, authorities said on Monday. Fernando Duran, administrator of the state-run Banco Agricola, told a news conference the government will pay pig farmers the market price of each animal […] Read more

Pulse weekly outlook: Dry edible beans faring well in Manitoba weather
MarketsFarm – Like all crops, dry edible beans have been affected by the high heat and drought-like conditions which have plagued most of Manitoba this summer. However, they have weathered the conditions better than most, according to Manitoba Agriculture’s provincial pulse specialist. “For the most part, the dry beans are looking okay,” said Dennis Lange. […] Read more

Meatpacker Tyson Foods mandates Covid vaccines for workers
Reuters – Tyson Foods Inc said on Tuesday it was mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for its entire workforce, joining a growing list of major U.S. companies as they face renewed pandemic restrictions due to the fast-spreading Delta variant. Surging COVID-19 cases and new guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that requires […] Read more

Klassen: Drought conditions spur on fall cattle run
Compared to last week, Western Canadian feeder yearling prices were relatively unchanged; calves traded $2 to $5 lower. The fall run has started. Drought like conditions have caused many ranchers to sell cattle 30 to 45 days earlier than normal. Steers averaging 900 pounds were readily trading in the range from $185 to $190; steers […] Read more